270 



An Account of the Tribe of Mhadeo Kolies. [April 



(through the management of the widow Rukmabair of Chass) these 

 surprised Ohe Kolies and killed and wounded many of them. The Koly 

 leaders werfc consequently forced to dispense their followers. The go- 

 vernment, officers, having learnt that Suttoo Silkunda and Kokata, the 

 two chiefs of the insurgents^ were wandering about the jungles by them- 

 selves, made the villagers of the Ambygown district promise to capture 

 the robbers. The better to ensure this, they obliged them to enter into 

 the Sunkly zammeeny, or chain security, (one Patell going security for 

 two or three cultivators, another respectable Patell for five or six poorer 

 Patells, and a Desmook for a number of the Patells, &c). Silkunda and 

 Kokata, hearing of the measures the government officers were adopt- 

 ing, moved off to another quarter; this was partly for their own safety, 

 and partly to save their friends from being harassed and punished for 

 not fulfilling their promise of apprehending them. After the troops 

 retired from the jungles, the Kolies recommenced their operations. 

 Several seasons were passed in this way; however when Jowjee Baum- 

 lay was settled at Rajoor he was ordered by government to prepare to 

 proceed in pursuit of the rebels. These did not wish to come to blows 

 with Baumlay, and it appeared to be a more prudent and politic plan to 

 enter into some terms of accommodation with those in power, and 

 they effected this through the aid of a Brahmun acquaintance. 

 Circumstances compelled these Kolies to remain quiet for upwards 

 of four years, when Sunttoo Silkunda repaired again to the jungles, 

 in consequence of the dispute about his hereditary rights not hav- 

 ing been adjusted.* The troops employed against |the Silkunda 

 gang this time, soon forced them to disperse, and the chiefs were 

 induced to go in the direction of Aurungabad. They had taken an oath 

 that they would cut off the Patell of Oottoor's head, unless government 

 afforded them redress. Nana Phurnavees was resolved on making a 

 severe example of these Kolies. He declared that he would not pardon 

 them again, as they were such a treacherous race and as no faith could 

 be reposed in them. At length one of their friends consented to be- 



* In adjusting boundary disputes between the Kolies during the Mahomedan suprema- 

 cy, they were in the habit of making the Kolies swear on the Koran. Tbere are some 

 documents several hundred years old, detailing the adjustment of boundary disputes, by 

 which some idea may be formed of the Patellships that have been sold, otherwise transfer- 

 red or become extinct, &c. 



No subject of quarrel is more necessary to be attended to by us than the settlement of 

 boundary disputes and hereditary claims to dues ; more especially when such occur in a 

 hilly or jungly district. No pains ought to be spared on such occasions to ascertain the 

 original cause of the quarrel, and all the merits of the case. The greater the number of 

 the most respectable Patells and other persons associated in the investigation, the greater 

 is the prospect of the disputants being satisfied with the decision, and, in the event of one 

 of the parties being discontented, there is less chance of his adopting violent measures to 

 gratify his revenge, aware that such a large portion of the most influential number of the 

 •community would be opposed to his wild scheme. 



